Salvation Army collections up 12.5 percent

The Salvation Army of Hawaii said yesterday that red kettle donations this season topped $882,000, up 12.5 percent from a year earlier.

“;We are very pleased and pleasantly surprised that the people of Hawaii have responded so positively to our appeal for support especially during these difficult times,”; said Maj. Edward Hill, divisional commander of the group.

The donations will be used for holiday assistance to families, as well as for year-round services for those needing food, clothing and shelter, Salvation Army officials said.

The group also offers drug and alcohol addiction treatment and rehabilitation, adult day health services, homeless drop-in centers, youth camps, soup kitchens, preschools and emergency and disaster services.

Work will shut highway at night

Kalanianaole Highway will be closed between Ka Iwi Scenic Lookout and Makapuu Beach Park nightly next week, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The highway will be closed from 9:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, weather permitting, as crews do slope stabilization and construction work on a retaining wall above Makapuu beach.

Motorists traveling between Waimanalo and Hawaii Kai should use alternate routes.

Kalihi library to close on weekends

The Kalihi-Palama Public Library will be closed on weekends because of a staffing shortage.

The library will be open only from Monday through Friday, instead of Monday through Saturday, a release said.

The new schedule follows:

» Monday and Wednesday, 1 to 8 p.m.
» Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
» Saturday and Sunday, closed

The library is at 1325 Kalihi St. For information call 832-3466.

Earthquake jostles Maui, parts of Oahu

An earthquake estimated at magnitude 3.7 was recorded 33 miles north of Kahului yesterday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake occurred at 11:39 a.m. at a depth of 12 miles and was felt throughout Maui and as far away as Molokai, and Kailua and Waipahu on Oahu, according to the USGS Web site.

Maui police reported receiving a few calls about the earthquake, but there were no immediate reports of damage.